From "Ms. Smith" @ Networkworld 8/9/11
http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/privacy-groups-protest-massive-dhs-database-sBeen an interesting week. An old chestnut was thrown back into the fire with the "FBI Letter" directing vendors of "survivalist equipment" to seek ID from purchasers - particulary those doing so in cash - resurfacing from the depths of 2007.
Now DHS is contemplating implementing a copy of the FBI's "Terrorist Screening Database". I suspect the
"terror" will come if/when DHS gets its way and this demonstrably faulty Dbase is exempted from Privacy Act provisions.
The TSD is well documented as having multiple faults. One can only shudder to think what happens when DHS - you know those folks that feel grabbing the crotches of 90-year old cripples and sexually fondling babies, while stealing their possessions is OK - get their hands on a massive database of of names/addresses/birthdates and biometric data. Given past performance, can we be certain its personnel won't run wild with travelers' identities ?
If DHS gets its way, no one will know if they're on the "list" and have no recourse to correct any identity mistakes either. Given how bureaucracies adore/revere "official lists", is the certainity of abuse worth the "perceived" safety it might confer ? >Mech